Palace unfazed by Noynoy's bid

MANILA – The Arroyo administration is not threatened by Senator Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino’s presidential bid.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Aquino’s popularity was due to the outpouring of support for his late mother, former President Corazon Aquino, but doubts if the euphoria will last until the 2010 elections.

Ermita also expressed confidence that the presidential candidate of the administration coalition, Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-KAMPI-CMD), will be able to defeat Aquino.

Lakas-KAMPI-CMD is still in the process of choosing its standard-bearer, and one of those being considered is Aquino’s cousin, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

"You can be very sure that the reason why ang Lakas-KAMPI ay may sinusunod na proseso ay para makasiguro tayo na ‘yung mapipili natin ay winnable," Ermita said.

He said the Lakas-KAMPI-CMD bet will have the benefit of the administration machinery.

Ermita said the recent expression of support of the majority of the country’s provincial governors for Teodoro is "very, very significant."

But he added that President Arroyo has not endorsed Teodoro and that the Palace has not given any order to the governors to support Teodoro.

Ermita also acknowledged that some members of the Lakas-KAMPI-CMD may abandon the ruling party and support the opposition.

He said the ruling party has no plan to conduct a loyalty check since this would only indicate that the Lakas-KAMPI-CMD is in a state of panic, "which we are not."

Ermita said he is confident about the maturity and statesmanship of Lakas-KAMPI-CMD members.

Around 50 Lakas originals led by former President Fidel Ramos and former House Speaker Jose de Venecia "regrouped" last Tuesday, signaling another crack in the ruling party.

The more, the merrier

Meanwhile, Vice President Noli de Castro on Wednesday welcomed the decision of Sen. Noynoy Aquino to run in the 2010 presidential elections, adding that the more candidates there are, the better for voters.

De Castro said the number of candidates vying for the presidency is not an issue as long as all the candidates who intend to run have the best intentions for the country and have no vested interest.

He refused to comment when asked if he thinks Aquino is an opponent that would be hard to beat.

De Castro said he hasn’t thought that far because he has yet to decide if he will join the presidential race.

He also clarified reports that he would be announcing his decision on Sept. 15, the deadline set by the Lakas-KAMPI-CMD. He said he just read the date in the newspaper, but he never said that he planned to make an announcement next week.

De Castro said nobody can dictate when his announcement would be, and he has set his own deadline but he wants to keep it to himself at the moment.

Meantime, de Castro said he is hoping that Lakas-KAMPI-CMD and the original Lakas party led by former President Ramos, could settle their differences and unite to have only one common candidate.

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